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Pubs in Croydon

1. The Royal Standard, Sheldon Street, Croydon, CR0 1SS

You can play a board game in front of the fire at The Royal Standard (Image: Natalie Stacey)

Away from the nearby hustle and bustle of the town centre, tucked away beneath the flyover, this chocolate box pub could be a great place to warm up after the mania of Christmas shopping.

It will probably get its fire going around mid-November. Together with hearty food, real ale and maybe even a board game from its shelf, you are sure to feel toasty in here.

2. The Oval Tavern, Oval Road, Croydon, CR0 6BR

There's a good fire going in The Oval's wood burner (Image: The Oval Tavern)

The Oval has a lovely wood burner to keep us all toasty in the cold months and it has been making use of it already this winter.

Nestled away on a residential street not too far from East Croydon Station is a cosy, quirky and family-friendly pub, which has storytelling sessions for children on Saturday afternoons and dogs are welcome inside too.

You can even cosy up over a board game. With home-cooked food on offer at the Good Beer Guide-listed pub, there is no need for you to slave over cooking a Sunday roast.

3. The Builders Arms, Leslie Park Road, Croydon, CR0 6TP

Your dog can happily doze off in the warmth of the fire, as they are welcome in the pub.

You might tuck into one of its Sunday roasts or perhaps enjoy the match live on TV, which, let's face it, if the fire is going in the grate as well, might be more appealing than a cold football terrace.

4. The Fox, Fox Lane, Coulsdon Common, CR3 5QS

You can warm up after your walk in Happy Valley at this fire at The Fox (Image: The Fox)

If you have been out walking in Happy Valley, The Fox is the perfect place to warm your chilly toes near one of its three real fires.

There's one in the casual dining area, one in the restaurant and one in the bar and they have all been burning away this autumn.

With a hearty menu on offer, cosy armchairs and real ales you might even decide to skip the walk altogether and just enjoy the rural charm and rustic character of the pub.

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5. The Harrow, Farleigh Road, near Farleigh Common, CR6 9EL

This is another pub out of town but not too far to get too, especially if you are coming from New Addington or Selsdon.

Just turn off Addington Road onto Old Farleigh Road. It has got real fires in its bar and restaurant.

The pub dates back as far as the 18th century and used to be a manor, so there is plenty of historic character to go with your meal.

6. The White Bear, Fairchildes Lane, Fickleshole, CR6 9PH

You'll find a wonderful open fire at the tucked-away pub, The White Bear (Image: Mike Little)

If you really want to feel you have escaped the rat race then you can seek out this this stunning country inn tucked away down a lane – which is in fact, only a couple of miles from Selsdon, Forestdale and New Addington.

The white-washed Grade II listed country inn nestled away in the tiny hamlet of Fickleshole near Warlingham has three real fires to warm up in front of.

You are sure to feel cosy and relaxed as you dine or drink there beneath its wood-beamed ceilings.